Match-box.



No. 796,875. PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905. A. E. SMITH.

MATCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11,1905. I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1905.

Application filed February 11, 1905. Serial No. 245,306.

To all whom it may cancer-m Be it known that I, ARTHUR E. SMITH, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Geneva, in the county of Crawford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Match- Boxes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in match-boxes, and more particularly to that type of box which is designed to deliver but one match at a time.

The present invention is an improvement upon my match-box as set forth in an application filed by me in the United States Patent Office November 17, 1904, Serial No. 233,151, allowed December 22, 1904.

The object of the present invention is to provide a novel form of casing in which the matchcontaining box is detachably mounted, and a particular adjunct of my improved box is a waste-match receptacle, which is also detachably connected to the casing.

In connection with my improved match-box I have embodied a novel form of alarm which is adapted to be sounded each time amatch is delivered from the match-container.

In order that those not conversant with my prior application can readily understand the construction of my improved match-box, a brief description of the same is herewith given. The match-box comprises a receptacle or container having a hinged lid, whereby the matches can be readily placed within the receptacle. Within the receptacle or container is a partition extending at an angle across the same and which to a certain extent forms a bottom upon which the matches rest and also acts as a slide upon which the matches fall to be delivered. The receptacle is provided with a spring or hinged door which swings inwardly only, and this door carries arms which when the door is forced inwardly engage with the angular ends formed on a rock-shaft that is journaled in the bottom of the receptacle or container. Curved fingers are carried by the rock-shaft which operate in slots provided .therefor in the partition, and said fingers when the door is forced inwardly are elevated into engagement with matches whereby to cause a match to be discharged.

The construction of my improved matchbox will be hereinafter more fully described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and referring to the drawings accompanying of the same.

this application like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which Figure 1 is a front view of my improved match-box. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of my improved match-box removed from the casing illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and Fig. 4 is a front view of the same. To put my invention into practice, I have constructed a casing or inclosure for the matchcontainer, and said casing consists of a base 1, upon which is mounted an auxiliary base 2. The auxiliary base 2 supports side walls 3 3, a front wall 4, and indirectly a top 5. To one of the side walls 3 is hinged, as indicated at 6, a door 7, that may be provided with a suitable lock. Upon the top 5 of the casing is mounted an inclined shield 8, having side walls 9 9, which are secured to the top 5 of the casing, as indicated at 10. The inclined shield 8 is slotted, as indicated at 11, and the material bordering on the upper edge of said slot is bent downwardly, as indicated at 12, to form a guide for matches that are adapted to pass through said slot.

The reference-numeral 14 designates a receptacle having a handle 15, which rests upon the top 5 of the casing beneath the inclined shield 8. Upon the shield 8 suitable words may be inscribed, such as Throw matches here after using, or other words designating that the burned matches are to be deposited within the receptacle 14. The inclined shield is provided with a serrated or roughened surface 16, upon which matches may be struck when it is desired to ignite the same.

The receptacle or tray 14 used to receive the burned matches may readily be removed from beneath the inclined front plate or shield 8 in order to empty the same when desired.

In the front wall 4 of the casing I form a transverse slot 17, and upon the front wall, adjacent to said slot, I mount an escutcheonplate 18, which is provided with a pocket or lip 19. The inner face of the wall 4, adjacent to the slot, is provided with a chute 20, the bottom of which protrudes within the slot 17, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

' The inner faces of the side walls 3 3 of the casing are provided with cleats 21 21, and the container 22 is provided with ribs 23 23 near its upper edges, whereby said container or box can be slidably mounted within the casing. The rear wall 24 of the container is provided with a suitable handle 25 to facilitate a person in withdrawing the container from the casing.

In the container illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings I have made a few slight modifications from the box illustrated and described in my application heretofore mentioned, I having found it advisable to dispense with certain features of construction of my prior matc-h-box on account of the same now being shielded and protected by the casing now employed. The container as now constructed comprises besides the rear wall 24 side walls 26 26 and a front wall 27. The side walls 26 are cut away and bent inwardly, forming flanges 28 28, and the front wall 22 is preferably made of a resilient material, whereby the lower portion of the wall will form a hinged door or gate 29. In the container is mounted a curved partition 30, which forms the bottom of the receptacle. Adjacent to the lower edge of the partition is formed a groove 31, having slots 32 32. Between the side walls 26 26 is mounted a rock-shaft 33, the ends of which protrude beyond the receptacle and are bent upwardly, as indicated at 34 34. The rock-shaft 33 is provided with arms 35 35, that are adapted to move upwardly within the slots 32 32 when the shaft is rocked, arid to accomplish this I have provided the door or gate 29 with rods 36 36, that extend rearwardly and engage the ends 34 34 of the rocking shaft. When the door or gate 29 is pressed inwardly, the match which lies within the groove 31 is forced outwardly into the chute 20 by the arms 35 35. To force the door or gate 29 inwardly, I have mounted in the front wall 4 of my improved casing a rod 37, having a button or head 38, and this rod is supportedin the aperture 39, through which it passes by a link 40, pivotally connected to a lug 41, carried by the inner face of the front wall 4. The inner end of the rod 37 is adapted to engage the gate or door 29 of the matchcontainer, and when said rod is forced inwardly the gate or door 29 is likewise carried inwardly to deliver a match into the chute 20 and then into the pocket 19, carried by the front Wall 4 of my improved casing.

I have provided a novel form of alarm which is adapted to be sounded each time a match is withdrawn from the match-container. The alarm consists of mounting a bell 42 upon the auxiliary base or bottom 2 of the receptacle and of pivotally mounting, as at 43, in close proximity to the bell 42 a clapper 44, which is actuated by a rod 45, connected, as indicated at 46, to the rod 37. When the rod 37 is forced inwardly, the clapper 44 strikes the bell 42, and the clapper 44 is returned to its normal position by the resilient door 24 forcing the rod 37 outwardly, when the same is released.

When the match-box is made in large sizes capable of containing a considerable quantity of matches, I preferably provide the front wall 27 with an angular-disposed partition 46, which is adapted to relieve the Weight of the matches within the container resting on the door or gate 29. To avoid more than one match entering the groove 31 and to insure a perfect position of the match within the groove 31. I have hinged, as indicated at 47', to the rear face of the door 29 a feeder-plate 47, which is adapted to automatically adapt itself to the thickness or thinness of the matches and only permit one match at atime to enter the groove 31.

My invention particularly resides, as heretofore stated, in the casing which surrounds the container, and while I have herein illustrated the preferred manner of constructing my improved match-box it is obvious that various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with an inclosing casing, of a container removably mounted in said casing, and having a partition forming the bottom of the container and provided with a groove forming a match seat, and having notches registering with said groove, a rockshaft journaled in the walls of the container with its ends extending beyond said Walls, fingers carried by said rock-shaft, the front wall of said container being capable of being pressed inwardly, and means carried by said front wall to engage the extending ends of the rock-shaft to actuate the latter and cause the fingers to enter the said notches and eject a match from the match-seat, substantially as described.

2. In a match-box, a container having a partition provided with a curved lower portion forming a bottom for the container and having a groove forming a match-seat, and provided with notches registering with said groove, a door or gate for said container formed of spring material, a rock-shaft journaled in the walls of the container below the curved bottom, means carried by the spring door or gate to engage and actuate said rockshaft when the door or gate is forced inwardly, and means carried by said rock-shaft to engage in the notches in the bottom of the container and eject the match from the matchseat, substantially as described.

3. A container having apartition provided with a curved lower end forming a bottom for the container, and having a transverse groove forming a match-seat with notches registering with said groove, a rock-shaft journaled in the walls of the container, fingers carried by said rock-shaft, a spring door or gate for the front of said container, means carried by said door or gate to actuate the rock-shaft and cause said fingers to eject a match from the match-seat, a partition Within the container to relieve the weight of the matches from said door or gate, and a feeder-plate carried by the door or gate, as and for the purpose described.

4. A container having a partition provided with a curved lower end forming a bottom for the container, and having a transverse groove forming a match-seat with notches registering with said groove, a rock-shaft journaled in the Walls of the container, fingers carried by said rock-shaft, a spring door or gate for the front of said container, means carried by said door or gate to actuate the rock-shaft and cause the said fingers to eject a match from the match-seat, and a partition within the container to relieve the Weight of the matches from said door or gate.

5. The combination with an inclosing casing having a door and provided near its upper end with interior cleats, of a match-container supported on said cleats, and having a particasing, and connections with said rod whereby the alarm is operated simultaneously with the operating of the spring door or gate to eject a match.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR E. SMITH.

Witnesses:

J. R. CLARK, ALEX. MELLoN. 

